New England starting 15?

[coonor]

I am getting abit fed up with people trying to shift positions round just to get players in the team. England need to find a centre partnership that works not just put good individuals in places where they lack clear cut solutions. I would play Farrell at 12 and Tuilagi at 13. Some people may prefer it the other way round but I like a creative 12 which would get the ball wide where England have a good choice of strong attackers and slicing runners.

 

[Gavin]

I agree with stus.

Just try out Foden for the opening game, if he is poop, revert him back. He might end up being the next, you kow, that guy who played for England.

First match for England is Scotland in Murrayfield; oh I see what you did there LordHope Stus, are you French, Scottish, Irish, Welsh or Italian?

 

[Draggs]

Sheridan at 12. Certainly would be a crash-ball centre.

 

[RAWWeyman]

1. Corbs
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Palmer
6. Robshaw
7. Wood
8. Croft/Waldrom/Morgan
9. Care
10. Flood
11. May (just to give him a chance)
12. Barritt
13. Tuilagi (Trinder if injured)
14. Ashton
15. Foden

16. Stevens
17. Gray
18. Parling
19. Haskell
20. Youngs
21. Farrell
22. Brown

I prefer Barritt at 12 over Farrell, as his defence and his running attack are so good. The only issue would be whether him and Tuilagi would be too one dimensional in a centre partnership.

If Jonny May goes tits up against Scotland then put in Benjamin or Sharples. Yeah yeah may be a bit risky but I think England can afford to be brave with their choices.

Also, I wouldn't say no to the inclusion of Cipriani, especially if he is accompanied by a solid, tactical 12 like Barritt, Farrell, Allen or Twelvetrees.

 

[j-dawg]

The backs is too much of a head blag for me to deal with so here are my forwards;

1. Corbs (Marler if he can scrum)
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Palmer
6. Croft
7. Wood
8. Robshaw

 

[Teh Mite]

The backs is too much of a head blag for me to deal with so here are my forwards;

1. Corbs (Marler if he can scrum)
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Palmer
6. Croft
7. Wood
8. Robshaw

Could have legs in that pack. Building the likes of Grey, Crane, Haskell, Clark, Attwood and some more props to fit in as suitable and A(assuming the new coaching staff aren't idiots) maybe the future isn't quite so bleak.

 

[j-dawg]

Haskell of course will be involved when he gets back. Attwood probably too because Palmer may be unavailable although I'd like to keep palmer as the old head of a pack, kind of the new 'Shaw'. Actually forget that, bring Shaw in, he did well in the world cup and will do so in the next one...and the one after...

 

[j'nuh]

Just waiting for someone to give me an actual reason. Not just say no. Brown is playing very well at the moment and does not need to be 'shoehorned' in

Okay. 13 has probably the hardest channel to defend - throwing a player who has never played there into a full international game is silly. With practise he could be good, but with Tuilagi and Trinder, that position is settled. Foden on the wing has more merit, and it could be helpful if Foden had the versatility to play there, but really I'd like to see him concentrate on becoming as good as he can at 15 - we've got a lot of depth and talent on the wing.

Glos players: Burns is the best running fly-half in England - Farrell isn't even starting there for his club. (Saracens-Glos in a couple of days. Farrell is on the bench, but when he comes on it will be a great duel.) I'd be inclined to give Flood and Burns a start each against Scotland and Italy then take it from there. May has pushed Sharples out - starting the last game and being given the nod against Saracens. Given his versatility, I could see him make a good 22, but let's see how he does against a team like Saracens first. Trinder is another Glos player pushing for the 22 shirt. Let's finally make use of JSD at 11 please.

 

[B10]

1. Corbs
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Attwood or Palmer
6. Robshaw (c)
7. Wood
8. Morgan (if he chooses Wales then Waldrom)

9. Youngs or Care
10. Flood
11. Sharples
12. Barritt
13. Tuilagi
14. Ashton
15. Foden or Brown

 

[welshglory]

You've been playing too many rugby video games buddy playing Foden at 13 wont work in real life. Its the most important defensive position in the back line and the guy has never played there. Maybe if he had played there during his school days or when he was in academy then i'd i say differently but no its madness quite frankly you just think his attributes would suit it like a video game.

 

[McTallshort]

Y not? Too outside the box for English rugby? He has the ability.

Someone else from the Brian Smith school of back selection

 

[HenryChinaski]

Okay. 13 has probably the hardest channel to defend - throwing a player who has never played there into a full international game is silly.

Keith Earls being brushed off by Manu Tuilagi before the world cup springs to mind: Earls being a perfectly good winger, not an experienced international 13.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

11. May (just to give him a chance)

I don't think we should start May on the wing. Mainly because he doesn't consider himself a winger - he's a centre.
He covers wing well, same with Fullback, but I'd rather start a winger who has played a lot there, than someone who has played there due to clubmates being injured.
Would be a good option off of the bench though (further down the line)

 

[j'nuh]

but I'd rather start a winger who has played a lot there, than someone who has played there due to clubmates being injured.

I'm pretty sure he's starting there on merit at the minute. He came on to score the winning try against Connacht, winning a place in the XV, and then started and scored 2 tries against Wasps, and I haven't heard about an injury to Sharples (he's been moved to the bench)?

 

[Peat]

Olyy, has May himself said that? Because Sharples is fit and on the bench, and May has played as much at wing as centre moving through the age grades.

 

[racingmetrofan]

imo 1st and second choices:

1: Corbs (Marler/Mullan)
2: Hartley (?)
3: Cole (?)
4: Lawes (?)
5: Attwood (?)
6: Croft (Haskell)
7: Wood (Clarke)
8: Robshaw (Narraway)
9: Care (Youngs)
10: Flood (Burnes)
11: Sharples (Ojo)
12: Barritt (Farrell)
13: Trinder (Tulagi)
14: Short (Ashton)
15: Foden (Brown)

I think the non bracketed players would be the form 6 nations starting XV at the moment - pretty good defensively and with a lot of attacking ability!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Olyy, has May himself said that? Because Sharples is fit and on the bench, and May has played as much at wing as centre moving through the age grades.

I dunno then, I was always under the impression he was a centre/utility player.

 

[welshglory]

I think his skill set fits the back three more.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Marler getting ruined by the Exeter front row today
Clegg playing and kicking well ball in hand, but kicking for the sticks isn't great - Mike Brown playing very well.

 

[psychic duck]

Marler getting ruined by the Exeter front row today
Clegg playing and kicking well ball in hand, but kicking for the sticks isn't great - Mike Brown playing very well.

seriously, Marler is a really poor scrummager

I would go as far as saying he is like Buckley at loosehead

decent in the loose, but can't scrummage